Haley locks self out of Governor’s Mansion
Gov. Nikki Haley accidentally locked herself out of the Governor’s Mansion early yesterday morning, The State reported. Haley posted on Facebook at about 8:30 a.m.: “What not to do … getting locked out of the Governor’s Mansion in your robe while sending the kids off to school. sigh … #adayinthelife.” The post had 4,701 likes and 577 comments by 11 p.m.
Wednesday. Haley was praised by commenter Lynn Floyd Ragan, who posted “That’s super funny! I think it’s cool that you shared that. Makes you human:)”
S.C. Democrats were not as amused. “File this under fake transparency because it certainly is telling about Nikki Haley’s priorities when it comes to sharing information with the people of South Carolina,” the party said in a release.
— Haley Bourne, Copy Desk Chief
Former agent sentenced in kidnapping plot
A former Secret Service agent was sentenced to five years in prison Tuesday for plotting to kidnap a retired South Carolina judge, The Associated Press reported. James Bartee, 55, was found guilty of solicitation to commit a felony by an Oconee County jury. He was also sentenced to five years of probation. Bartee was arrested while running for Oconee County sheriff in 2012. Authorities said he paid an informant to kidnap the judge because he was worried the judge’s testimony in a hearing would reveal that he wasn’t qualified to be sheriff. Bartee’s lawyer said local and state police were conspiring to knock Bartee out of the sheriff race and that he will appeal his conviction.
— Haley Bourne, Copy Desk Chief
2 Sumter High School football players arrested
After a three-month investigation, two Sumter High School football players have been arrested on criminal sexual conduct charges, the Sumter Item reported.
Deonte Lowery and Tiquan Colclough have been charged in an incident at Sumter High School last year in a boy’s locker room, where a 14-year-old boy told police two men held him down while another sexually assaulted him with an unknown object.
The two Sumter High School juniors were arrested Tuesday afternoon and will be charged as adults. They were released from jail on $20,000 bond each. If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of 20 years in jail.
Lowery and Colclough were suspended from school Wednesday. They are not permitted on school grounds and cannot participate in extra-curricular activities, including football.
— Amanda Coyne, News Editor